119th Congress

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WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) released the following statement:
 

“The FBI and DOJ recently informed me that my phone conversations with State Senator and President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas were being monitored as part of their investigation into Senator Lucas. This is deeply concerning.
 

Trump’s DOJ has become his own personal law firm, with his former personal attorney carrying out vendettas on Trump’s political enemies. They have politically investigated multiple states’ Attorneys General and the former FBI director. Now they admit they have surveilled conversations by a sitting Democratic Congressman.
 

The timing of this wiretap and investigation is extremely suspicious. The tap took place between March and May, which was at the peak of campaigning for the redistricting referendum in Virginia. This was also while the Oversight Committee was calling on Pam Bondi to testify on the Epstein investigation. This should concern anyone who believes in a real Department of Justice that serves the American people and not a singular president. 
 

If this surveillance was done to scare us and to get Democrats to stop pushing back against Trump’s political overreach, they are mistaken. We will not back down. We will continue our investigations into this President and his corrupt administration.”
 

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WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) has introduced a package of bills that would crack down on the Trump administration’s corruption. The legislative package includes three bills: The JARED Act, the No Pardon Paydays Act, and the Government Travel Transparency Act.

“This administration is the most corrupt in modern American history. Every American is paying the price while this administration lines their pockets and dishes out favors to their friends. We refuse to stand by and watch this unfold. There must be consequences for this corruption while we work to restore the American people’s trust,” said Rep. Subramanyam.

The Justice and Accountability for Representatives Engaged in Diplomacy (JARED) Act is co-led by Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-CA). It would extend ethics requirements to any individual who engages in negotiations on behalf of the U.S. government, including preventing individuals from engaging in negotiations in their direct financial interest. President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has been heavily involved in multiple negotiations with foreign governments where he also does business, including at a time when he was acting as a private citizen.

“It is unacceptable that Jared Kushner raised billions of dollars and influenced foreign policy to his financial benefit while conducting negotiations on behalf of the United States. Not once was he required to submit any financial disclosures or undergo any oversight. This bill will strengthen transparency in U.S. foreign negotiations and create greater accountability,” said Ranking Member Garcia.

“Those who represent our country abroad are entrusted with an awesome responsibility. Abusing that trust for private gain and personal profit erodes public trust, and more importantly, it risks creating conflicts of interest that might compromise U.S. foreign policy and national security,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at CREW. “CREW is proud to endorse this legislation, which ensures that purported agents or representatives of the federal government who engage with foreign nations, or solicit things of value on behalf of the U.S., obtain the proper background checks, disclose potential conflicts and remain accountable for their conduct.”

The No Pardon Paydays Act is co-led by Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus Ted Lieu (D-CA). It would prevent corruption in the pardon process by requiring the Pardon Attorney to submit a review to Congress of any criminal history of the pardon recipient. It would also prohibit pardon recipients from making high dollar contributions to political committees associated with the President who granted the pardon. President Trump has handed out blanket pardons to January 6th insurrectionists and those who padded his pockets – and did not distinguish between those who engaged in acts of violence. Many of the January 6th insurrectionists who received pardons have since committed new crimes.  

“Donald Trump has repeatedly abused the presidential pardon power to give get out of jail free cards to violent, convicted felons who assaulted Capitol Police officers on January 6th, and benefit close political allies and the members of his inner circle. This cannot stand. That’s why I’m proud to join Rep. Subramanyam’s effort to put a commonsense check on presidential pardons, ensuring regardless of who’s in the White House, the power is used fairly and responsibly,” said Assistant Democratic Leader Neguse. 

“Time and time again, Trump uses pardons as favors for his pals and donors. This blatant corruption is dangerous to our democracy and our communities,” said Congressman Lieu. “I am pleased to partner with Rep. Subramanyam on the No Pardon Paydays Act, which would mitigate the perverse practice of paying for Presidential pardons. You should not be able to buy your way out of justice, no matter how much money you donate to the President.”

The Government Travel Transparency Act is a commonsense bill to provide transparency over how officials are using taxpayer funded aircraft. Federal government aircraft are supposed to be used only when they are the most cost-effective mode of travel. There have been multiple reports of administration officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and Vice President JD Vance, using government aircraft for personal use. 

Ashburn, VA -  Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) issued the following statement on the Nepal flash floods. 

“The news of the flash floods at the Nepal-Tibet border is devastating. My prayers are with everyone who has been impacted by this terrible disaster. I am especially concerned that so many U.S. citizens have been impacted and are currently missing, including many of my constituents from Northern Virginia. Some of them were community leaders who went to find spiritual connection in the Himalayas. 

My team is in regular contact with the State Department. We are working to ensure that there is a thorough search and rescue operation to help find the missing people and regular contact with families trying to find loved ones. If you or anyone you know is impacted, please reach out to our office.” 

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Rep. Subramanyam’s District Office can be reached at 703-236-1300.  The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is also working to locate U.S. citizens, and can be reached at: KathmanduACS@state.gov. U.S. citizens seeking information about family members should also contact: 1-888-407-4747 from within the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 if located outside of the United States and Canada. The most recent Embassy alert can also be found here. 

Ashburn, VA – U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) and Zach Nunn (IA-03) today introduced the Reserve Organization of America Charter Amendments Act of 2026 to ensure federal law recognizes both enlisted servicemembers and commissioned officers serving in America’s reserve forces.

Founded in 1922, the Reserve Organization of America (ROA), formerly known as the Reserve Officers Association, is the only Congressionally chartered organization exclusively dedicated to advocating for America’s Reserve and National Guard — across all ranks and services. 

“Modernizing ROA’s charter will ensure that it can continue to advocate for reservists and their families for the next 75 years and beyond,” said Rep. Subramanyam. “I look forward to continuing to partner together on these efforts and championing impactful legislation to support our servicemembers.”

The legislation updates ROA’s outdated federal charter to reflect the organization it is today, including its expansion to represent servicemembers of every rank and reserve component. Because ROA is Congressionally chartered, outdated requirements written into federal law can only be changed by Congress. This bipartisan bill gets that done by officially recognizing the Reserve Organization of America name, cutting decades-old red tape, and giving ROA greater control over its own governance, headquarters, and day-to-day operations.

Nearly 9,000 Iowans serve in the Army and Air National Guard, with thousands more answering the call in reserve components across the Armed Forces. Rep. Nunn currently serves alongside them as a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve, continuing more than two decades of military service that began as an airborne intelligence officer.

“After more than two decades in uniform, serving in both active duty and the Air Force Reserve, I’ve seen firsthand how our Reserve forces have evolved to meet new challenges and keep our country safe,” said Rep. Nunn. “ROA has evolved right alongside them, expanding to represent servicemembers of every rank, but its federal charter hasn’t kept up. Our bipartisan bill brings that charter into the 21st century, cuts outdated red tape, and gives ROA greater flexibility to serve the men and women who defend our nation.”

Specifically, the Reserve Organization of America Charter Amendments Act would:

• Recognize every rank that serves by officially changing ROA’s name in federal law from the Reserve Officers Association to the Reserve Organization of America. 
• Modernize ROA’s federal charter by giving the organization greater control over its own governing structure and headquarters, rather than locking those decisions into federal law.
• Cut administrative red tape by replacing burdensome multi-state agent filing requirements with a single registered agent in Washington, D.C.
• Maintain strong accountability standards by prohibiting ROA from operating for profit, issuing stock, contributing to political campaigns, or making loans to its officers or governing body members. 

The Reserve Organization of America Charter Amendments Act of 2025 is the House companion to bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). 

Text of the bill can be found here.

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August 19, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) – Northern Virginia Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA), along with House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-CA), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS), today opened an investigation into an August 10 encounter in Falls Church, Virginia, during which a masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent pointed a gun directly at Carolina Molina, a U.S. citizen and Northern Virginia resident, without justification. The lawmakers sought answers and a full investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and review by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, and demanded that the ICE agents involved in the encounter be placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation and review.

Video footage recorded by Carolina Molina on August 10 shows unmarked vehicles blocking her car from the front and rear before masked ICE agents approach her. One agent then draws his firearm and points it directly at Ms. Molina. The agent is then heard accusing her of “following” and “recording” the agents before subsequently accusing her of attempting to run them over and threatening her with arrest—an accusation that is not supported by the available footage, which shows no attempt by Ms. Molina to run over or otherwise endanger the agents.

In a letter addressed to Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, and Acting ICE Director David Venturella, and copied to DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, the lawmakers condemned the dangerous and unjustified escalation captured on video and demanded answers about the ICE agents involved, including their use of force and threats against Ms. Molina for exercising her right to record federal officers. The lawmakers also condemned DHS’s subsequent dishonest statements about the incident, including its characterization of Ms. Molina as an “anti-ICE agitator” and allegation that she “attempted to harm officers by weaponizing her vehicle.”

The Members wrote:

“This footage and the incident it depicts are deeply concerning. They echo the larger pattern of dishonesty and dangerous, unjustified escalation we have unfortunately seen from DHS agents across the country, which resulted in the tragic deaths of Ruben Ray Martinez, Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero, and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.”

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“What happened to Carolina Molina cannot be dismissed as an ordinary interaction between ICE and a member of the public. We therefore request that the FBI conduct a formal investigation into this incident, and that the DOJ Civil Rights Division evaluates those findings. We also request that DHS immediately preserve all records related to this encounter – including body-worn camera footage, cellphone and vehicle footage, use of force and incident reports, and internal communications.”

Full text of the letter follows below, and a signed copy is available here. 

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Dear Attorney General Blanche, Director Patel, Secretary Mullin, and Acting Director Venturella:

We write to request an immediate Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation and Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division review into the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an enforcement operation in the Bailey’s Crossroads neighborhood of Falls Church, Virginia, on Monday, August 10, 2026. We urge you to place the agents involved in this incident on leave until the conclusion of the investigation and review of their conduct.

Videos shared with us by Carolina Molina, a U.S. citizen and Northern Virginia resident, depict a disturbing encounter in which masked ICE agents blocked her car with their vehicles, approached her car, and pointed a firearm directly at her without any provocation or threat posed by Ms. Molina to the agents. The videos captured on Ms. Molina’s dashcam and cellphone raise serious concerns about the agents’ unjustified escalation, use of force, blatant dishonesty, and call into serious question the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) subsequent response.

Carolina Molina was visiting immigration law offices in Bailey’s Crossroads on August 10, where she volunteered her services as a licensed professional counselor to immigration clients in need of mental health assessments. After seeing ICE agents operating in the vicinity, Ms. Molina attempted to leave the area. At this point, unmarked vehicles positioned themselves in front of and behind her vehicle, effectively boxing her in. Masked ICE agents then emerged from the vehicles and approached her car. One agent had drawn his firearm and pointed it directly at Ms. Molina.

In the videos recorded by Ms. Molina, an ICE agent with his gun pointed at her shouts at her for “following” them and for “recording” them. Then the ICE agent accuses her of attempting to run the agents over and threatens her with arrest. Another agent says, “I will testify and lock you up.” The claim of a deadly threat is obviously belied by both the video footage and their decision to leave her without detaining or charging her after she told them that she had dashcam footage of the encounter. 

This footage and the incident it depicts are deeply concerning. They echo the larger pattern of dishonesty and dangerous, unjustified escalation we have unfortunately seen from DHS agents across the country, which resulted in the tragic deaths of Ruben Ray Martinez, Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero, and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. 

ICE’s own policies provide clear standards against which this conduct must be evaluated. Under ICE Directive 19009.3—which governs the use of force and firearms by ICE personnel—officers are strictly prohibited from the use of excessive force. The Directive explicitly states that officers are to “use force only when no reasonably effective, safe, and feasible alternative appears to exist” and may “only use the level of force that is objectively reasonable in light of the totality of facts and circumstances confronting the authorized officer at the time force is applied.” It also states that violations of the policies and procedures outlined in the Directive “may be grounds for disciplinary action or other appropriate action.”

ICE Directive 19010.3 directs ICE agents to activate their body-worn cameras to capture footage at the start of enforcement activities or as soon as safely possible thereafter. The videos published by Ms. Molina show that at least three of the agents involved were equipped with body-worn cameras. Ms. Molina herself also recalls seeing the agent who brandished his gun press a button on his body-worn camera during the encounter. Ms. Molina’s dashcam video also depicts another agent recording the interaction on a cellphone and another taking a photo of her license plate. ICE should therefore have its own contemporaneous record of this encounter. The agency should immediately preserve all body-worn camera footage, cellphone footage, and other records relating to the incident, as required by ICE Directive 19010.3.

Just as concerning as the incident itself is DHS’s response to the incident. On August 11, DHS issued an unattributed statement referring to Ms. Molina as an “anti-ICE agitator” and claiming that she “attempted to harm officers by weaponizing her vehicle against them.” DHS further stated that Ms. Molina “could face criminal prosecution.” These are serious allegations, none of which are corroborated by the video footage publicly posted by Ms. Molina. The Department’s accusation that she was “weaponizing her vehicle” is particularly concerning, as it is identical to previous claims made to justify the use of deadly force elsewhere that later collapsed after the production of video evidence, just as this one has. The similarities suggest that Department personnel are intentionally, nefariously, and systematically engaging in illegal intimidation and violence against American citizens under cover of false claims of danger. 

Ms. Molina’s dashcam footage shows the lead-up to the encounter, while her cellphone video captures the confrontation after ICE agents approached and surrounded her vehicle. Neither video shows any attempt by Ms. Molina to run over or otherwise endanger the ICE agents. The footage does, however, depict the ICE agents dangerously escalating the encounter by surrounding her vehicle and confronting her with a drawn firearm. The footage also captures ICE agents using intimidation rather than lawful enforcement to control members of the public who observe, criticize, or record their activities. Whatever the agents’ views of her conduct, criticism, and recording of federal agents in public do not justify federal officers escalating that encounter or threatening a civilian with a firearm.

What happened to Carolina Molina cannot be dismissed as an ordinary interaction between ICE and a member of the public. We therefore request that the FBI conduct a formal investigation into this incident, and that the DOJ Civil Rights Division evaluates those findings. We also request that DHS immediately preserve all records related to this encounter – including body-worn camera footage, cellphone and vehicle footage, use of force and incident reports, and internal communications. We also request answers to the following questions: 

For DOJ and FBI:

1. Please confirm when we can expect the FBI and Civil Rights Division to start an investigation.

For DHS:

2. Who are the ICE agents depicted in the videos recorded by Carolina Molina? Please provide the names, titles, positions, and functions of each agent involved in the encounter.
3. Did the ICE agents involved in the incident with Ms. Molina receive training on safely stopping and approaching vehicles? If so, what specific training did they receive, and did their actions comply with ICE policies and procedures?
4. Please state whether these agents have faced any disciplinary actions for violating ICE’s use of force policies, improperly displaying a firearm, or otherwise endangering Ms. Molina and members of the public. If yes, who has faced discipline and on what grounds? If no disciplinary action has been initiated, why not?
5. Are these agents currently authorized and deployed to conduct immigration enforcement operations in public spaces?
6. Has any DHS supervisor, field office, or other oversight body opened an investigation into this incident? If so, which office was designated to review the incident? What is the status of that investigation and what are they investigating?
7. Was a use of force report or other incident report created as a result of the agent drawing and pointing his firearm at Ms. Molina? If so, was such a report completed? Provide a copy to our offices.
8. Has ICE determined whether the agent who drew and pointed his firearm directly at Ms. Molina complied with Directive 19009.3? If so, please identify the specific provisions supporting that determination. 
9. ICE should have its own record of this encounter. Please provide our offices with all complete and unedited body-worn camera footage, cellphone and vehicle footage, and any other records relating to the incident.
   1. If the body-worn camera did not record the encounter, please explain why not and whether the agent complied with all applicable requirements under ICE Directive 19010.3 governing body-worn cameras.
10. When ICE agents menaced Ms. Molina for the “offense” of “recording us,” was this violation of her First Amendment rights consistent with their training from the Department? Given the recurring pattern of ICE and other DHS agents menacing citizens for legally and constitutionally protected activities, what corrective actions will your agencies take to prevent systematic violations of Americans’ constitutional rights from continuing?

Please provide a response no later than Monday, August 31, 2026.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to your response. 

Ashburn, VA - “I welcome the news that former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be moved to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. Since his time in custody, reports revealed sustained eye damage, general health concerns, and prolonged solitary confinement. Hospitalization and access to his personal physician and family are needed steps in the right direction. But we must continue to advocate for Mr. Khan’s human rights and access to care.” -- Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) 

On August 11, 2026, Congressman Subramanyam led a bipartisan letter, urging the State Department to review concerns about Mr. Khan and his wife, Bushra Imran Khan’s, conditions in detention. The letter urged the Department to address their continued detention and human rights with the Government of Pakistan. The full text of the letter can be found here. 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Ranking Member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee, and Robert Garcia (CA-42), Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee, are demanding answers from the Department of Defense (DOD) about conditions on the USS Lincoln. 

“Secretary Hegseth has claimed the rumors of overboard attempts and food rationing are overblown. If conditions are what he says they are and he has nothing to hide, then we will see if the information matches his claims. Our servicemembers are being asked to be away from family for months on end with inadequate conditions. That is unacceptable,” said Ranking Member Subramanyam.

"Sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln are going without food, dealing with contaminated water, and attempting suicide after hundreds of days at sea due to President Trump’s incompetent and disastrous war with Iran. Secretary Hegseth must answer for and improve these unacceptable conditions immediately," said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.

There have been reports for months about food rationing and insufficient food on the USS Lincoln. There have also been more recent reports of several servicemembers attempting to jump off the ship. The USS Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days, setting modern records for deployments without port calls.

In a letter to DOD Secretary Hegseth, the Ranking Members asked for information on the inventory of food, medical supplies, and other critical resources for the sailors and Marines. They also asked for clarification on the timeline of when the USS Lincoln would be relieved by another aircraft carrier.

The letter can be found HERE and below. 

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Dear Secretary Hegseth: 

We write regarding the conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, specifically, the living conditions and access to mental health resources for the sailors. Recent reports have revealed disturbing sanitation conditions, food shortages, and deteriorating mental health among those deployed on the aircraft carrier, including multiple suicide attempts, with one sailor jumping overboard. Our sailors deserve better while they serve our country, and these deplorable conditions negatively impact morale and readiness. As Members of Congress, we have a duty to support our troops, and it is clear that additional oversight is needed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. 

The USS Abraham Lincoln holds more than 5,000 sailors and Marines and departed San Diego last November. Now redirected to the Middle East to support the Iran War in Operation Epic Fury, the carrier has been deployed for over 250 days and has spent a record-setting 200 consecutive days at sea. At a town hall with Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, families of those aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln voiced their concerns directly. Among them were food shortages, water contamination, and disruptions in mail. 

As the Ranking Members of the Oversight Committee and the Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, we request a classified briefing on the USS Abraham Lincoln’s conditions and answers to the following questions by August 28, 2026: 

1. What is the current inventory of food aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln?  
   1. Please detail the food supply and delivery schedule over the course of the carrier’s deployment. 
2. What sanitation issues have been identified aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, including broken bathroom facilities? 
3. What health care, including mental health care, are available to the sailors aboard?  
   1. What behavioral health care professionals are on board and accessible to those seeking help? 
   2. How quickly can someone on board the ship meet with a behavioral health care professional after seeking help? 
4. What steps can be taken to mitigate the disruptions to the mail system that sailors have experienced? 
5. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao reportedly told family members that the USS Theodore Roosevelt is preparing to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln. Without jeopardizing national security, what details can be shared about the timeline for the ship’s relief? 

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X. If you have any questions about this request, please contact Committee Democratic staff at (202) 225-5051. Thank you for your prompt attention to this request. 

Chantilly, VA – U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Don Beyer (VA-08) and James Walkinshaw (VA-11), released the following statement after conducting an unannounced oversight visit yesterday evening at ICE’s temporary holding facility in Chantilly, Virginia. 

“We exercised our right to direct congressional oversight over ICE facilities after hearing reports of overcrowding and lengthy stays at a facility designed for temporary processing.

At the time of our visit, we did not witness overcrowding. ICE staff asserted that they are complying with a recent court order limiting stays at temporary processing facilities like Chantilly to 12 hours.

Our oversight does not end with one visit. We will continue monitoring this facility and holding ICE accountable to ensure everyone in its custody is treated humanely and in accordance with the law.”